Rhode Island School Removes Prayer Banner By Court Order

A federal judge ordered the controversial banner, which addresses “Our Heavenly Father” and ends with “Amen,” removed last month in response to a lawsuit by a high school junior and atheist who said its religious language made her feel excluded.

But the lawsuit by Jessica Ahlquist stirred strong feelings in the city of Cranston, where some residents saw the effort to remove the 8-foot high by 4-foot wide banner, on display since 1963 in the school auditorium, as a slap at tradition and an assault on religion.

“I’m pleased with the vote,” said Ahlquist, guarded by one of the police officers who ringed the packed school board meeting after scouring the space with bomb-sniffing dogs. “Obviously it was the right decision to make.”